Prem Rawat’s “Words of Peace” watched by prison inmates worldwide

Los Angeles, June 21, 2007 — In prisons on six continents, the message of Prem Rawat, known also by the honorary title of Maharaji, is being watched by prison inmates, with life-changing results noticed by prison administrators. Starting in December 2003, in the largest prison in Asia, located in New Delhi, the program is now also spreading to the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the United States, South America, Africa, and Mexico.

While it varies from place to place, the program consists of a combination of regular showings of a DVD series called Words of Peace, featuring the international addresses of Prem Rawat and printed materials.

In Argentina, the program is supported by the National Forum of Human Rights and the White Helmets, a United Nations affiliate, and is active in two prisons, one for men and one for mothers with children up to four years of age. This prison in Buenos Aires houses a kindergarten for the children and workshops for the women with an eye to preparing them for future jobs. The Words of Peace program has been active for nine months. One woman commented, “A deep feeling reaches my heart when I listen to these words. I could listen all day.”

In India, following a personal visit by Prem Rawat eighteen months ago where he spoke at a special event for 1,000 prisoners, prison officials, and staff in Tihar prison, the program has expanded, with events happening twice weekly, and was recently graded as "Excellent" by the Central Jail welfare inspector. The superintendent of Central Jail No. 2 in New Delhi expressed his appreciation for “the tremendous impact [this program] can have on the mindset of prisoners, leading them on a path of reform.” Since the program began over three years ago, more than 3,400 prisoners have participated in four different prisons.

In the United Kingdom, the program is active in 146 regional prisons, and a senior manager in one prison stated, “Prem Rawat gives hope to all, importantly to those people in our society who are from less advantaged backgrounds and could easily be forgotten or unheard.” An inmate commented, “It makes being in here almost bearable, it makes such a difference, and for this I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

In South Africa, a pilot project is currently being initiated to include the materials as part of a rehabilitation program at the Leekup prison, the largest in the Johannesburg area. A similar project is being developed in the United States, with an initiative to have Words of Peace broadcast on a satellite network operating in 350 prisons.

In Cancun, Mexico, the Public Municipal Jail is completing a second year of weekly presentations in Spanish, with 75 to 100 inmates attending. A former warden is now seeking to include Words of Peace on a national level. The program was acknowledged in a message sent by the Mayor of Cancun to Prem Rawat: “We listen attentively to your encouraging words, words that we have transmitted in important social events, organized for the benefit of children, women, young students, as well as for the almost 1,000 inmates of the Cancun Public Municipal Jail, who each week find, in your words, motivation for achieving a healthy and prompt re-adaptation to society.” One of the prisoners commented, “Hearing this message has totally changed how I am, how I act and think.” Another said, “It helps me to grow spiritually and internally. It has changed my life inside the jail because I enjoy the time more and don’t want to fight or argue like before.”

Inmates and prison managers in New Zealand have also expressed a lot of interest, with all twenty prisons in the country using materials in their libraries and educational programs.

Discover more about Prem Rawat, his message of hope and peace, and The Prem Rawat Foundation's humanitarian initiatives